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President Duma Boko has unveiled the Bonno National Housing Programme, an ambitious initiative aimed at reshaping Botswana’s socioeconomic landscape through large-scale homeownership. In a bold declaration, he promised that no fewer than 100,000 families will either own or be in the process of acquiring real property by the end of his administration’s first major housing initiative.
“We want to afford every citizen not just shelter but an opportunity to own real property,” said President Boko. “
“This is not just a project to build houses and provide shelter in the short term. It is the beginning of one of the most ambitious projects of wealth transfer ever undertaken in this country.”
Highlights
- President Duma Boko launches the Bonno National Housing Programme with a target of 100,000 family beneficiaries.
- Framed as a long-term wealth transfer program, not merely a social housing scheme.
- Property title and ownership emphasized as tools for economic empowerment.
- Programme includes tiered schemes for different income groups and renovation support.
- Water tariffs reduced by 30% as part of a broader affordability agenda.
Bonno Housing Programme: Inclusive Wealth Through Shelter
The Bonno Programme, spearheaded by the Ministry of Water and Human Settlements under Minister Onneetse Ramogapi, supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 for inclusive, safe, and affordable housing.
The government plans to deliver 100,000 housing units over five years through seven schemes catering to diverse income brackets:
- Integrated Poverty Alleviation Scheme for self-employed citizens.
- Social Housing Scheme for Botswana’s most vulnerable.
- Bonno Turn Key Scheme for those earning between P4,400 and P95,000.
- Bonno Home Loan Improvement Scheme for housing renovations.
- D4 Income Bracket Scheme for earners between P95,000 and P282,120 annually.
- Rent-to-Buy Scheme.
- District Housing Scheme.
Housing as a Tool for Economic Transformation
President Boko’s vision sees housing not only as a shelter solution but as a foundation for economic inclusion. By facilitating access to land ownership and legal title deeds, the initiative aims to redefine intergenerational wealth building and democratize property rights.
According to international case studies, secure homeownership plays a pivotal role in reducing poverty and enabling entrepreneurship. Botswana’s vast land reserves and modest population density make this scale of transformation achievable.
Water Tariff Reduction and Sustainability Measures
In a complementary effort, the government has announced a 30% reduction in water tariffs effective April 1, 2025, to relieve household financial pressure. Citizens are being encouraged to adopt water-saving measures, including:
- Closing meter pipes.
- Switching from baths to showers.
- Teleworking.
- Repairing leaks.
This aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on the sustainable management of water resources.
A Blueprint for Shared Prosperity
By targeting affordable ownership and investing in infrastructure, the Bonno Programme signals a shift away from temporary subsidies toward permanent asset creation for citizens. Legal title serves as both shelter and capital, creating collateral for small businesses, educational access, and family security.
With a nationwide rollout, the Bonno National Housing Programme is poised to become one of Africa’s most ambitious state-led wealth redistribution efforts through property.
